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Restaurant Kiibo

4.3 (206 reviews)
ModerateJapanese
Closed Closed
Updated 2 months ago

Restaurant Kiibo Photos

RESTAURANT KIIBO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Restaurant Kiibo

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Adel W.

I appreciate this spot so much, because they accommodated our huge party of 20 people flawlessly! We had a lot of dietary restrictions as well in the group. The owners and staff are super sweet as well, and food is fantastic. I got the tonkatsu teishoku and it was super flaky and juicy.

Chicken Teriyaki

Really, really good food! We ordered the teriyaki chicken, vegetable roll, and the honey shrimp for an appetizer (literally ate it so fast I didn't have time to take a picture) . Everything came out fast and the service was great. The chicken teriyaki came out super hot and they definitely give you your moneys worth here. Check this place out!!

April F.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Restaurant Kiibo is our favorite restaurant on the island due to superb service, great atmosphere and wonderful food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our favorite is the unagi. Fresh and expertly prepared traditionally over coals, each and every time. So rich and decadent it needs to be savored. It is a perfect dish. We also enjoy the tempura. Prepared fresh when ordered. The batter is light and crisp and perfectly fried. We love the mochi tofu appetizer. So unique and perfectly prepared it covers many tasting profiles: crunchy, chewy, salty and sweet. Delicious. If you get the opportunity to try Restaurant Kiibo, you must.

Butterfish
Justin W.

This is probably our favorite restaurant in Lihue and definitely one of the best sit-downs on the island. My family came for dinner after looking for a meal a little different from Hawaiian BBQ and sushi. Our Katsu and Tonkatsu were tender with a light, flaky, well-seasoned crust. Butterfish was just flaky enough and rich; it was simmered in a light sweet soy-based sukiyaki sauce that was a tasty change from the typical miso marinaded black cod I've had. I've had Tofu Agedashi plenty before, but here I tried their concept of a Katsu Agedashi as part of the two dish combination with Butterfish -- dashi broth is sweet, lightly salted, and a nice light alternative to ordering Katsu curry or Tonkatsu. Both the authentic food, portions, and friendliness of our table service impressed us a ton. Might just be back for a second visit this trip.

Combo tempura
Mel Y.

It's a Monday but also Labor Day and this restaurant was open. I had called prior to their opening but they called me back which was super thoughtful! They let me reserve and we showed up a few hours later. They really treat everyone like Ohana and the service is amazing. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Really comfortable environment and cute decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Many great options, we went with the curry katsu and the combo tempura and tonkatsu. The combo pick two comes with miso, salad, and ice cream and totally worth it! Also matcha IPA is amazing. Highly recommend to locals and visitors! :)

Take a look at the cook with his shoe on the soup pot that was on the floor

I recently went to Kiibo... the server was great! The food was decent... however I cannot unsee this cook's foot on a soup pot that was on the floor... It turned my stomach and I will not be returning to that restaurant..

So good!!
Rodney Mabini R.

We're finally back again.We came for dinner.As always we were greeted with a smile n hello welcome!.No problems with service e.Always good but,The food always didn't disappoint as well!.This time I got the 2 choice of Teishoku.The beef Sukiyaki n teriyaki chicken.I was blown away of how much food there was!.It took some time n I finally finished the beef sukiyaki but I could not finish the teriyaki chicken so I took it home.Everything was so tasty n good!.So my girl friend got the Chicken katsu Donbori.It was good size bowl.She couldn't finish it as well so she took the rest home for her lunch for the next day.She enjoyed it.Great taste n filling.We left happy!.Can't wait to come back.Maybe next pay check??.So if want some good food?Good service?enjoy a nice n cool place to have a meal?.Come here!!.You won't be disappointed!..

Katsudon. My favorite!!

Incredible Japanese food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Felt like I was in Tokyo.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Lived there for 16 years. Very authentic Japanese food

Restaurant Kiibo is a small dining venue.....Reservations definitely recommended. We have dined here on several occasions and the food is a hit or miss. This time it was a miss. My girlfriend and I were disappointed with the beef sukiyaki. The flavor was good...but the sliced beef was cooked wadded up in a ball and overcooked. . Another friend said the Goma (sesame) ramen was tasty except he couldn't taste the sesame flavor until he was almost at the bottom of the bowl. He thought the top was basically chicken broth(?). Last but not least, hubby had the chicken tofu. His dish was probably the best. I only wish it had veggies. The chicken was tender and the broth was flavorful.

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Hamura Saimin

Hamura Saimin

3.8
(2.6k reviews)
0.2 mi
$$

This year our island mission is to find the best locals food. This was the most wonderful…read moreexperience. Aunties are friendly, quick and helpful. Seating is family style. We immediately struck up convo with woman sitting across from us. We told her our mission and she said she would show us the way locals eat Saimin. She taught us how to fix up the pepper water with the shoyu sauce and yellow mustard. It was fantastic. Really took the flavor up to another level. We also tried the Lilikoi Chiffon Pie, which was so light and fluffy. Not too sweet. We were blown away when the cashier told us the lady at our table paid for our lunch! The aloha spirit is alive and well in Lihue. We will most def pay it forward. If you're looking for that place where your kapuna wahine is cooking, THIS IS IT!

This was my first trip to Kauai in decades and my first time trying Hamura's! This is one of the…read morefew places most people I know recommend going as a must-visit for those traveling to Kauai. PROS The staff were incredibly friendly aunties and several of them helped us during our visit. The saimin came out piping hot and fresh. Noodles were cooked to perfection! Portions were quite generous. We weren't very hungry, so we ordered small portions and it was the perfect amount for us. Prices are affordable and condiments are readily available on the counter. It's a little unorthodox, but I added some chili vinegar to my saimin and it was delicious! CONS This is a hole-in-the-wall, no frills dining experience. It feels like eating in someone's home kitchen, which is kind of a vibe. The restaurant has no AC, which made it less than ideal for eating hot soup especially during the summer afternoon. Parking is very limited outside with a small gravel lot and street parking. The saimin broth was a little too salty for our tastes, but I was warned by a friend that that's how it is. I also ordered a beef stick, but our server forgot about it. TIPS Come during off-hours if you don't want to fight for parking. Come hungry and avoid the warmer months if you run hot. Try dip some of your noodles into chili vinegar and see how it is!

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Interior
Interior
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Crispy Fried Won Tons (8pcs)
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Sushi Blue Wave

Sushi Blue Wave

4.8
(110 reviews)
0.3 mi

We were a group of six first time visitors to Kauai, and we came to Blue Wave after a friend and…read moreKauai local recommended it. We are so happy we got in! The interior is cozy, and our group felt big for the space, but we did get seated at a table that accommodated all of us. We were also very nicely accommodated in our quick service, as we had a reservation at a nearby attraction that was closing in. I asked the waiter (PJ, I think?) to select 6 nigiri sushi for me, and I also ordered a roll, as did everyone else. Everything was delicious and it's obvious why this place was crowned a Kauai Best last year. The sushi was phenomenal, the service was very welcoming, and the ambiance is ideal. If you like sushi, this is a must visit in Lihue. Easy 5 stars. Mahalo Blue Wave!!

Without a doubt, this was the best meal on my trip to Kaua'i…read more GETTING THERE: It was extremely easy to find. Its right off a main road and you cannot miss it. Parking lot in the back was a bit small, but the establishment itself isn't very big. AMBIANCE: As I said, it's a very small place. It can hold maybe about 20-25 people. It's a tight little place with very few tables and a small sushi bar. The dim lights and natural lighting gave it an intimate ambiance. I was seated at the bar and you can watch the chefs assembling my food while being trained at the same time. SERVICE: Our server was phenomenal. I believe his name was PJ. He was quick, attentive, and gave us a good laugh every time he stopped by to check on us. You can see the trainee going through on the job training, but the food still came out in a very timely manner. They were quick and we're happy to answer any questions we had. FOOD: I'm from the Seattle where the fish is extremely fresh and we get some amazing sushi. Also been to Japan a couple times. This was definitely up there for me. Everything was delicious; from the soft shell crab, to the blue fin toro, to the popcorn shrimp. Although I did indulge a little, I believe the chef's choice would be an amazing pick with high value for someone on a budget. Surprisingly, the blue fin toro wasn't my favorite. While it did taste amazing and melted in my mouth, I found the tai snapper to have more dynamic flavor thus marginally beating it out. Also I've never had steak sushi before, but I became a huge fan of the A5 wagyu nigiri and it left me wanting more. Hands down my top 3 picks. OVERALL: I highly recommend trying this place out. I loved the food, the atmosphere, and the service. Its definitely a must visit for me if I were to come back to Kaua'i.

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Sushi bar area
Sushi bar area
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Restaurant Kiibo - japanese - Updated July 2026

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